PESHAWAR: The provincial government on Thursday formally launched ‘Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Right to Public Services Act-2014’ initially with notification of five services to facilitate people and get them rid of the delaying tactics of officials in service delivery.

Speaking at a function arranged at Peshawar Press Club on Thursday in connection with introduction of the Act, Azmat Hanif Orakzai, chief commissioner of Right to Public Services Commission, shared details about the new law.

Special Assistant to Chief Minister Arif Yousaf was chief guest at the sensitisation event. A member of the commission retired Major Attaullah Khan was also present on the occasion.

Official says public servants will be held accountable for inefficiency

Mr Orakzai described the legislation as a step towards promotion of good governance, establishment of accountably system and rapid services delivery to people in the province.

In his detailed presentation on the law, he said that the legislative measures were aimed at ensuring time-bounded delivery of services to the general public, particularly holding the concerned public servant accountable for any service deficiency. Under the law, Mr Orakzai said, complainants would claim for compensation from the officer concerned due to his/her failure or delay in providing the tormented services. He said that the complainant would go to police station for registration of FIR. In case of any delay by the SHO, the complainant would go the district police officer as appellate authority, he added.

Mr Orakzai said that domicile certificate must be issued within 10 days. If the process was delayed, a complaint should be registered with additional deputy commissioner, he added.

The secretaries of union councils, he said, would be duty bound to issue certificate of birth and death within two days otherwise complaints against them could be lodged with assistant director local government.

Mr Orakzai said that for approval of building plan maximum response time was 30-day, otherwise complaint could be lodged against the concerned AMO (planning).

Similarly, seven days have been fixed for issuance of Fard and in case the patwari failed to issue the document, the complainant can file an application with the district collector against him.

“If citizens are not provided with the desired services within the stipulated time, they can file appeal with the appellate authority, which shall decide the same within 30 days. Appeal against the decision of appellate authority shall lie with the commission, which would be decided within 30 days,” Mr Orakzai said.

He said that penalties and fines would be imposed on relevant officers in case of their failure to provide the required services within the stipulated period.

“If the responsible officer fails to provide the required services within the stipulate time, a fine of Rs500 to Rs25,000 shall be imposed on him. The commission can impose a penalty of Rs1,000 to Rs25,000 on the appellate authority if it fails to decide an appeal within the prescribed time. The commissioner can also recommend disciplinary action against defaulting civil servants,” he added.

Addressing on the occasion, Arif Yousaf said that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf was voted to power in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to bring change, transparency and accountability. He said that Right to Public Services Commission was established to implement all laws in realistic manner.

Published in Dawn, June 27th, 2014